Unfortunately, players leaving in free agency happen all the time, whether they were well-liked, barely noticed, or somewhere in between. When those exits involve a rejected qualifying offer, the New York Mets are left with more than just a roster hole to fill. They receive a draft pick, which is easy to overlook in the moment and even easier to forget once the offseason moves on. Over time, those picks add up, each tied to a different departure and a different offseason decision that helped shape the organization's future.
All 8 draft picks the NY Mets gained when they lost a free agent since 2016
2016 - Anthony Kay
Daniel Murphy’s unforgettable postseason run in 2015 ended with him cashing in elsewhere, as he signed a three-year deal with the Nationals that offseason. The Mets were left with the 31st overall pick as draft compensation and used it on left-handed pitcher Anthony Kay. Nearly a decade later, Kay is back in the spotlight, returning to MLB with the White Sox after a standout run in Japan, where he posted a 1.79 ERA during his 2025 season.
2020 - Isaiah Greene
The Mets held the 69th overall pick in 2020 and used it on outfielder Isaiah Greene after Zack Wheeler left for Philadelphia on a deal the Amazins chose not to match. Greene never played a game for the Mets, but he still factored into their long-term plans, as he was included in the 2021 blockbuster trade that brought Francisco Lindor to New York.
2022 - Nick Morabito
The Mets used the 75th pick in the 2022 draft on outfielder Nick Morabito after Noah Syndergaard signed with the Angels. Morabito put himself firmly on the radar during the 2025 season, which carried over into a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. The Mets added him to the 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 draft to make sure he stayed with the club.
2022 - Pick never awarded
Michael Conforto turned down a qualifying offer after the 2021 season, which put the Mets in a position to receive a compensatory pick in the 2022 draft. That pick never came. Conforto stayed unsigned through the draft while rehabbing from shoulder surgery, and since he did not sign with another team, the compensation was not awarded.
2023 - AJ Ewing
AJ Ewing was selected with the 134th pick after Jacob deGrom signed with the Texas Rangers. The circumstances around that offseason were difficult for Mets fans, given who was leaving, which made the pick easy to overlook at the time. Since then, Ewing has continued to develop into one of the organization’s more notable position prospects tied to that draft slot.
2023 - Austin Troesser
Austin Troesser was taken with the 135th pick in the 2023 draft as compensation after Chris Bassitt signed with the Blue Jays. Injuries limited Troesser’s workload during the 2025 season, which led to a shorter stint with the Brooklyn Cyclones before he headed to the Arizona Fall League. That time was used to log innings and keep his development moving in a pitching-heavy farm system.
2025 - Pick lost due to signing
Luis Severino signed with the Oakland Athletics following the 2024 season, initially putting the Mets in line for draft compensation. That pick was later forfeited when the Mets signed Juan Soto, who had turned down a qualifying offer from the Yankees. The move cost the Mets two draft picks, but it was an exchange most fans were more than willing to make, given the player added to the roster.
2026 - Pick lost due to signing
The Mets were set to receive a compensation pick in the 2026 draft after Edwin Díaz signed with the Dodgers. Under the Mets’ specific penalty structure, the signing of Bo Bichette requires them to forfeit their highest remaining 2nd and 5th round draft picks, with Díaz’s compensation pick — which falls after the fourth round — filling that latter slot. Most fans would gladly give up the future selection for the player now on the roster, even if it means watching the value of Díaz’s departure disappear before it ever reached the draft board.
